Alejandro Freire
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Freire (b. August 23, 1974) is a former first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played briefly for the Baltimore Orioles
during the season. Listed at 6' 2", 220 lb., Freire batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Caracas
, Venezuela
.
At age 31, it had been a long journey to the major leagues for Freire. He debuted as a rookie
in 1994 with the GCL Astros
, a Minor league
affiliate team of the Houston Astros
. But he spent nearly twelve full seasons in the minors, playing also for the Detroit
, St. Louis
, San Francisco
and Baltimore systems before reaching the majors.
Freire debuted with the Orioles in the 2005 midseason. He gained the promotion after hitting .299 with 19 home run
s and 69 RBI
in 106 games for Triple-A Ottawa Lynx
. In 25 games for Baltimore he hit .246 (16-for-65) with one home run and four RBI, appearing as a backup for Rafael Palmeiro
(in 16 games) or as designated hitter
(9).
Freire divided his playing time between Ottawa and with the independent Camden Riversharks
in 2006, his last professional season. In 12 minor league seasons, he hit a combined .289 average with 184 home runs and 741 RBI in 1323 games for 12 different teams (1991–2006). He also played for the Magallanes
and La Guaira
teams of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
(1995–2006).
Following his playing retirement, Freire has worked as a color commentator
for ESPN Deportes
during winter baseball.
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played briefly for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
during the season. Listed at 6' 2", 220 lb., Freire batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
At age 31, it had been a long journey to the major leagues for Freire. He debuted as a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in 1994 with the GCL Astros
Gulf Coast League Astros
The Gulf Coast League Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Gulf Coast League , and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Kissimmee, Florida, and play their home games at Osceola County Stadium. The GCL Astros began play in 1977. The team suspended operations...
, a Minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate team of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. But he spent nearly twelve full seasons in the minors, playing also for the Detroit
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, San Francisco
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Baltimore systems before reaching the majors.
Freire debuted with the Orioles in the 2005 midseason. He gained the promotion after hitting .299 with 19 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 69 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 106 games for Triple-A Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
. In 25 games for Baltimore he hit .246 (16-for-65) with one home run and four RBI, appearing as a backup for Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corrales is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985...
(in 16 games) or as designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
(9).
Freire divided his playing time between Ottawa and with the independent Camden Riversharks
Camden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in 2006, his last professional season. In 12 minor league seasons, he hit a combined .289 average with 184 home runs and 741 RBI in 1323 games for 12 different teams (1991–2006). He also played for the Magallanes
Navegantes del Magallanes
The Navegantes del Magallanes are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in Valencia, the Navegantes have won ten LVBP championships and two Caribbean World Series.-Pitchers:...
and La Guaira
Tiburones de La Guaira
The Tiburones de La Guaira are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in the city of La Guaira, the Tiburones have won seven national championships since their founding in 1962.-History:...
teams of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
(1995–2006).
Following his playing retirement, Freire has worked as a color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes is a cable television and radio network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day to the Spanish-speaking community in the United States...
during winter baseball.
See also
- 2005 Baltimore Orioles season2005 Baltimore Orioles seasonThe 2005 Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing 4th in the American League East with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses. The team started off hot, compiling a record of 42 wins and 30 losses while spending 62 days in first place in AL East...
- Cup of coffeeCup of coffeeA "cup of coffee" is North American sports terminology for a short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea behind the term is that the player was only in the big leagues long enough to have a cup of coffee before being returned to the minors, or simply to describe a...
- Players from Venezuela in MLB